Geology lab for kids.

147 Pages·2017·25.8 MB·English

by  Romaine

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© 2017 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Text © 2017 Garret Romaine
Photography © 2017 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Romaine, Garret.
Geology lab for kids.
First Published in 2017 by Quarry Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group, ISBN 9781631592850 (flexi-bind)
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265-D, Beverly, MA 01915, USA. 1. Geology--Experiments--Juvenile literature. 2. Science
T [phone] F [phone] QuartoKnows.com projects--Juvenile literature.
QE29 .R738 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form 550.78--dc23
without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this
book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the 2017005836
artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher,
or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the Cover and Book Design: Kathie Alexander
contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that Cover Images: Front cover images by Shutterstock, except bottom left
credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any by Patrick Smith Photography. Back cover images by Patrick Smith
inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing Photography, except top and bottom by Shutterstock.
information in a subsequent reprinting of the book. Photography: Patrick Smith Photography, except images by Shutterstock
on pages 6, 9, 12, 20, 30, 42, 52, 54, 64, 72, 82, 86, 96, 104, 106 (top),
Quarry Books titles are also available at discount for retail, wholesale, pro- 109 (left), 110, 118, 124 (top), 126, 132, and 134 (top); Garret Romaine: pages
motional, and bulk purchase. For details, contact the Special Sales Manager 92, 114 (left), and 128 (top).
by email at [email protected] or by mail at The Quarto Group, Attn:
Special Sales Manager, 401 Second Avenue North, Suite 310, Minneapolis, Printed in China
MN 55401, USA.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN: 978-1-63159-285-0
Digital edition published in 2017
eISBN: 978-1-63159-405-2
Borax, also known by its chemical name sodium tetraborate, is a
trademarked product in the United States from the Rio Tinto Group.
In this book, Borax is used as a material in labs 4 and 7.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Romaine, Garret.
Geology lab for kids.
ISBN 9781631592850 (flexi-bind)
1. Geology--Experiments--Juvenile literature. 2. Science
projects--Juvenile literature.
QE29 .R738 2017
550.78--dc23
2017005836
Cover and Book Design: Kathie Alexander
Cover Images: Front cover images by Shutterstock, except bottom left
by Patrick Smith Photography. Back cover images by Patrick Smith
Photography, except top and bottom by Shutterstock.
Photography: Patrick Smith Photography, except images by Shutterstock
on pages 6, 9, 12, 20, 30, 42, 52, 54, 64, 72, 82, 86, 96, 104, 106 (top),
109 (left), 110, 118, 124 (top), 126, 132, and 134 (top); Garret Romaine: pages
92, 114 (left), and 128 (top).
Printed in China
52 PROJECTS TO EXPLORE ROCKS, GEMS,
GEODES, CRYSTALS, FOSSILS, AND OTHER
WONDERS OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE
Borax, also known by its chemical name sodium tetraborate, is a
trademarked product in the United States from the Rio Tinto Group.
In this book, Borax is used as a material in labs 4 and 7.

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GARRET ROMAINE
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CONTENTS
Introduction 7 LIVING WITH LAVA
UNIT
Identifying Rocks and Minerals 10
4 Lab 13: Volcanic Action 44
Lab 14: Intriguing Intrusions 46
Lab 15: Lovely Lava Cakes 48
SINGULAR CRYSTALS
Lab 16: Collapsing Caldera 50
UNIT
Lab 17: Cocoa Crust 52
1 Lab 1: Tasty Treats 14
Lab 2: Salty Squares 16
Lab 3: Gemmy Goodness 18
SUPER SEDIMENTS
UNIT
5 Lab 18: Fun with Mud 56
CRYSTAL CLUSTERS
Lab 19: Settling Sediment 58
UNIT
Lab 20: Layers for Lunch 60
2 Lab 4: Crusty Crystals 22
Lab 21: Tasty Conglomerate 62
Lab 5: Crystal Garden 24
Lab 6: Nest of Needles 26
Lab 7: Geodes of Fun 28
MAJOR METAMORPHOSIS
UNIT
6 Lab 22: Smears of Pudding 66
SPECIMEN SLEUTH
Lab 23: Snaky Schist 68
UNIT
Lab 24: Chocolate Rock Cycle 70
3 Lab 8: Scratch the Surface 32
Lab 9: Streaks of Mystery 34
Lab 10: Bubble Trouble 36
Lab 11: Crystal Geometry 38
Lab 12: Divining Density 40
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CONTENTS
BREAKING IT DOWN PROSPECTING
UNIT UNIT
FOR RICHES
7 Lab 25: Finding Faults 74 10
Lab 26: Sunny Exposure 76 Lab 41: Flash in the Pan 112
Lab 27: Ruthless Roots 78 Lab 42: Bands of Beauty 114
Lab 28: Shake and Break 80 Lab 43: Vugs and Veins 116
Lab 29: Frozen Forces 82
Lab 30: Reading Rust 84
SPACE ROCKS, TOO
UNIT
UNDERSTANDING 11 Lab 44: Pretty Particles 120
UNIT Lab 45: Gutter Magic 122
THE EARTH
8
Lab 46: Merry Meteorites 124
Lab 31: Many Birthdays 88
Lab 32: Polar Opposites 90
Lab 33: At the Outcrop 92
ROCKS OF ART
Lab 34: Gushing Geysers 94 UNIT
MAJOR METAMORPHOSIS 12 Lab 47: Make My Paint 128
Lab 48: Glamorous Goo 130
Lab 22: Smears of Pudding 66 Lab 49: Building Bricks 132
SIGNS OF LIFE
Lab 23: Snaky Schist 68 UNIT Lab 50: Man of Stone 134
Lab 24: Chocolate Rock Cycle 70 9 Lab 35: Press a Leaf 98 Lab 51: Stack ’Em Up 136
Lab 36: Make a Mold 100 Lab 52: Caring for Curios 138
Lab 37: Crazy Concretions 102
Lab 38: Digging for Glory 104
Lab 39: Jurassic Amber 106
Resources 140
Lab 40: Finding Fossils 108
Index 141
Acknowledgments 144 T T
About the Author 144 CC
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6 GEOLOGY LAB FOR KIDS
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INTRODUCTION
Geology is the science of the Earth and How to make your own crystals. Learn how
learning to describe what you see so that crystals form and how to tell them apart. All
someone else can understand. Once you get rocks contain crystals, so this is a perfect
good at talking about the world around you, place to begin.
it’s not hard to take that to the next level
The differences between major rock types.
and figure out what happened to the Earth
Learn how the three main groups of rocks
in the past, even if you can’t see it happen-
form. You’ll discover the forces behind igne-
ing today. Nobody has ever traveled to the
ous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
middle of the Earth, but by making models
based on places we have been, we think we Identification and prospecting. See how
know what’s going on there. That’s science— scientists tell gems from ordinary crystals
make a prediction, see if you can prove it, and how they learn to look for valuable rocks.
and then apply it to bigger questions. Once you learn how to tell one mineral from
another, you can start to identify the rocks
In this book, you will learn a lot about the
you find all around you.
way things happen and why. You’ll be intro-
duced to the science behind processes you How things break down (entropy). See
see all around you, and you’ll learn to think how Earth’s forces take fresh, young lava
about the Earth in new and exciting ways. flows and turn them into sand at the beach.
Some of the most important parts of geology The sun plays a part, too, and so do plants.
come down to very simple concepts—gravity, Entropy is the idea that everything breaks
friction, heat, and water. Some things you'll down eventually. Steel will rust, and moun-
learn about are: tains will crumble.

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Fossils are the clues of life. Our planet has Geology is based on observations and pre-
an amazing fossil record to discover. Learn dictions that are part of the scientific model.
how scientists uncover clues about what Fortunately, the Earth works in a way we
Earth was like millions of years ago. can understand, so if we can make the right
model, we can use what we see in that model
Why space rocks are important. Learn how
to predict other forces. We can measure
comets and meteorites can rearrange the
things at a small scale, and we can make
Earth’s surface.
models to teach others. Even simple, fun
Rocks can be more than just rocks. Now projects can show the larger world at work.
that you know what’s going on inside a rock The labs and projects in this book will help
or crystal, you’ll see what you can do with you understand how much fun it is to learn
rocks and minerals in work and play. There about the world around you.
are lots of ways to display your treasures and
The best part is that most of these labs don’t
use them to create art or everyday objects.
require a lot of expensive materials; many of
Early humans used the materials around
them are easy to complete with items you
them for tools and you can, too.
find in your parents’ kitchen or garage. But if
Geology uses a set of vocabulary. Many of the you want to get super serious about under-
words are ancient, dating back to the earliest standing the world around you, this book will
times. Many foreign languages have found help you with that, too. Some of the materials
their way into geology as well. For exam- will take a little more searching to find, and
ple, the German words schist (pronounced you may want to get help ordering items
“shist”) and gneiss (pronounced “nice”) both online that you can’t easily track down. That
describe certain metamorphic rocks. Two can be part of the fun, too—you may get to
Hawaiian words—aa (pronounced “ah-ah”) go to thrift stores or second-hand stores to
and pahoehoe (pronounced “pa-hoy-hoy”)— find used pots and pans, for example. You
are used to describe lava flows, as there is should also expect to visit a craft store to
so much volcanic activity on the Hawaiian find some of the items you’ll need.
islands. Aa lava is jagged and blocky, while
And finally, be sure to visit a local rock and
pahoehoe lava is ropy and runny. These are
gem shop to find samples, books, tools, and
just some of many examples.
advice on how to begin your own collection.

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8 GEOLOGY LAB FOR KIDS
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